William H. “Bill” Nichols, 81, of Branson, Mo., formerly of Russellville, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale.

He was born Jan. 1, 1933, in Russellville to William Conway and Nola Mae Duvall Nichols. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. He graduated from Arkansas Tech University and received his Master’s Degree in music from the University of Oklahoma. He was an ordained music minister through the Assemblies of God and served several churches over the years as the Minister of Music, including First Assembly of God in Russellville. He had the Nichols School of Music in both Fort Smith and Branson and was the founder of His Kingdom Ministries in Branson.

Most recently he was the Professor of Music at the College of the Ozarks at Branson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ginia Nichols; and a sister, Imo Hickman.

Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law, Malcolm and Caroline Nichols of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Anthony “Tony” Nichols of Hector; a daughter and son-in-law, Ginda and Ron Miller of Pocola, Okla.; seven grandchildren, Brittany Miller-Keen and her husband, Trent, Roxie Miller, Jessica Carr, Jeremiah Nichols and his wife, Shasta, Sarah Nichols, Luke Nichols and Catherine Nichols; and three great-grandchildren, Isabel Nichols, Nate Carr and Emma Carr. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at the Round Rock Church, officiated by the Rev. Chuck Hefley. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery at Hector by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. Active pallbearers will be Jeremy Nichols, Jason Carr, Trent Keen, Ron Miller, Danny Bewley and Joe Hickman. Honorary pallbearers will be Fred Lorenz, Brent Lorenz and Larry Neal. The family will receive friends today from 1-3 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Music Department of the College of the Ozarks, 1 Industrial Place, Point Lookout, MO 65726. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.